Can Google be trusted?

The surprising answer is yes — as long as you’re not a competitor, advertiser, or consumer.

For years, it seemed, Google lived up to its old motto, “Don’t be evil.” It also seemed to do no wrong in terms of product superiority.

Google built its reputation as an ethical company that outperformed competitors. But is that reputation still deserved?

One thing is true: It’s been a bad year for Google’s reputation.